Greek schools are set to reopen this week as the Christmas and New Year holiday break comes to an end, marking a return to normal routines for students nationwide.

Classes at all levels of primary and secondary education will resume on Thursday, January 8, following a two-week suspension for Christmas, New Year’s, and Epiphany celebrations. The holiday break officially concludes on Wednesday, giving students a final day of rest before the first school bell of the new year.

The break began uniformly across the country on December 24, offering students a 15-day pause from lessons and school obligations. From mid-January onward, no nationwide school holidays are scheduled, allowing the academic calendar to proceed without interruption.

There are, however, limited local exceptions. In some areas, schools may close for a day to observe celebrations honoring a local patron saint, provided the feast day falls on a weekday.

A notable exception this year is the city of Kastoria in northern Greece, where schools will remain closed on January 8 due to the traditional “Ragoutsaria” festivities, a historic local carnival. As a result, students in Kastoria will return to classrooms on Friday, January 9. If an additional holiday is granted, as happened last year, schools there may reopen as late as Monday, January 12.

The Ragoutsaria celebrations are among the region’s oldest customs, featuring music, costumes, parades, and public festivities in which students traditionally take part.

Overall, the return to school after the holidays will be largely uniform across Greece, with Kastoria standing out as the sole area extending the festive break to preserve a long-established local tradition.